'Namakani' barge construction completed in Coos Bay

COOS BAY, Ore. -- Some say it's the fastest barge around and it's in Coos Bay.

Sause Brothers celebrated the completion of the Namakani Thursday, the newest addition to the Hawaiian Islands fleet.

The Namakani started in Portland where she was built for about five months.

She then arrived in Coos Bay in May where she was finished just Wednesday (August 24).

According to Sause Bros., the vessel is part of a new era of increased environmental sustainability and expanded capacity.

They say she is also a huge part of the community.

"This provides jobs; not only here in Coos Bay for the maintenance of this vessel as she continues service for us, but also jobs for the people that work on her, that load her, the sales group it creates jobs all the way between here, Portland and Honolulu," says Somar general manager Michael Lariviere.

Officials say Namakani's next voyage is set for Hawaii where they say she will help ship nearly 300-thousand tons of cargo each year.